5 Days Safari to Selous & Mikumi

Selous and Mikumi give you a very different Tanzania safari, with fewer crowds and long stretches of open country between Dar es Salaam and the parks. The best part is the mix of wildlife viewing: a boat ride among hippos and crocodiles, a guided walk, and classic game drives for elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, and more.

I like the southern Tanzania route because it feels less packaged than the famous northern circuit. I also like the range of activities packed into five days, plus the practical comfort of a 4×4 Landcruiser, bottled water, and all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The drawback is the road time. Day 3 in particular is long, and you should be ready for early starts, dusty tracks, and several hours in the vehicle.

Key points to know before you book

• Boat safari in Selous: Watch hippos and crocodiles from the water, a welcome change from sitting in a safari vehicle.
• Walking safari included: The early morning walk offers a closer look at the bush than a standard game drive.
• Two southern parks in five days: You see Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park, not just one reserve.
• Long transfer days: The trip starts and ends in Dar es Salaam, with roughly five hours to Selous on the first day and a lengthy transfer toward Mikumi on Day 3.
• Small maximum group: The vehicle can carry up to 12 participants, though some past departures were arranged privately.
• Strong guide feedback: Juma, Otto, Musa, and Endrick are among the guides praised for safe driving, wildlife spotting, and good company on earlier trips, but no specific guide is promised.

Why this southern Tanzania safari is worth considering

I would look at this trip if you want a safari that combines classic wildlife with a less crowded setting. Selous and Mikumi are not being sold as a quick photo stop. You spend real time on the road and in the parks, which gives you a better feel for southern Tanzania and the changing countryside.

The route also gives you more than one way to see animals. From a boat, you can watch hippos and crocodiles from a low position on the water. On foot, you get a slower, more alert view of the bush. From the Landcruiser, you can cover much more ground in search of elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, impalas, warthogs, wildebeest, and other wildlife.

That variety matters. A five-day safari based only on game drives can begin to feel repetitive, especially when long rides are involved. Here, the boat trip and walking safari break up the pattern.

The experience begins at 7:30 a.m. with pickup in Dar es Salaam. Transport is provided to and from the city, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. You travel in a safari Landcruiser with a pop-up roof, the standard setup for standing or sitting higher while watching animals and taking photographs.

The maximum group size is 12. That is not the same as a guaranteed small private group, so ask about the expected group size before booking if personal space or private guiding matters to you. Several past departures were arranged as private or customized trips, but that depends on the booking.

Day 1: Dar es Salaam to Selous and onto the Rufiji water

The first day is a proper travel day. Pickup begins in Dar es Salaam, followed by a drive of about five hours toward Selous Game Reserve. A packed lunch is provided, so you do not need to arrange a separate meal during the transfer.

The road takes you through rural parts of Tanzania, with small villages, farms, and broad areas that feel far removed from the city. I like this part because it places the safari in context. You are not simply flying into a park and skipping the country in between. You see how the settled areas gradually give way to bush country.

You are scheduled to reach Selous in the afternoon, with time for a boat safari. This is one of the strongest features of the trip. On the water, the main subjects are hippos and crocodiles, and the viewing style is different from a vehicle safari. You can look along the riverbanks and watch animals in the water without the engine and road movement of a game drive.

The boat activity is listed at about three hours, although the full day includes the drive from Dar es Salaam, arrival, dinner, and overnight accommodation. The schedule may feel tight after the long transfer, so do not expect a slow first morning. You are on the move from the start.

Accommodation is listed at Selous Tented Camo. The name is written this way in the supplied information, so confirm the exact property and room setup before paying if accommodation standards are important to you. Dinner is included.

Day 2: A walking safari followed by a full game drive

Day 2 starts early with a walking safari. This is a valuable addition because you experience the reserve at a slower pace, with attention on tracks, plants, sounds, and smaller signs of wildlife rather than only animals visible from a vehicle.

The walking activity returns to the lodge for breakfast. After eating, you set out for a game drive in Selous. The day is listed at about eight hours, making this the main wildlife day of the first half of the trip.

Selous offers the chance to see buffalo, lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, hippos, and crocodiles. No safari can promise every animal on a list, and sightings depend on season, weather, and luck. Still, the range here is broad enough to make a full day in the reserve worthwhile.

I especially like the order of the day. The walk comes before breakfast, when conditions are cooler and the bush is beginning to stir. The longer game drive then lets you cover more ground once the sun is higher.

This will also be one of the more tiring days. You will need to be comfortable with an early start, several hours outdoors, and a full day of sitting in a moving vehicle after the walk. Bring a hat, sun protection, and a camera battery plan. Those are sensible safari habits, not extras.

Dinner and breakfast are included as part of the four-night meal plan. Lunch is also provided.

Day 3: Leaving Selous through Morogoro toward Mikumi

After breakfast, you continue with a game drive in Selous before heading toward Mikumi National Park. The route passes through Morogoro and across the Uluguru Mountains, with rivers, farms, and small local villages along the way.

This is the trip’s biggest endurance test. The day is listed at about ten hours, although the stop description also shows a 10-minute admission entry for Mikumi. That short figure should not be mistaken for the full transfer time. You should plan for a long day with a large share of it spent driving.

The scenery changes as you go. The route through the Uluguru Mountains and rural settlements gives you a broader view of Tanzania than the parks alone. It also explains why this safari costs time rather than relying on short transfers between camps.

A sunset game drive in Mikumi may be possible if you arrive in time. The wording matters: it is not guaranteed. If the road takes longer than expected, you may reach camp without a full sunset drive.

The listed accommodation for the Mikumi portion is Camp Bastian. Dinner and overnight accommodation follow the transfer. If sunset viewing is a priority, ask the operator how often the Day 3 schedule allows it during your travel period.

Day 4: A full day across Mikumi’s flood plain

Day 4 is devoted to a full day of game viewing in Mikumi National Park. The day is listed at about nine hours, giving you time to explore beyond a brief morning visit.

The Mikumi flood plain is the park’s main feature, with mountain ranges along its edges. That combination creates open areas for spotting animals, plus higher ground and distant ridges that give the day some visual variety.

Animals commonly seen here include lions, elands, hartebeest, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and elephants. The trip information makes a specific point about Mikumi’s elephants: they are mainly grazers and do not cause tree damage. For you, that is a useful reminder that animal behavior can differ between parks, even within the same country.

Mikumi is a good match for people who want a classic safari day without adding another long intercity transfer. You can spend the day watching the road and open plain for movement, stopping when your guide spots something worth seeing.

Past departures have included guides named Otto and Musa, both praised for their driving and wildlife spotting. Endrick and Juma have also led earlier trips, with particular praise for professionalism, companionship, and animal knowledge. These names give you a sense of the guiding team, but the assigned guide can change.

You return to Camp Bastian for the night. Meals remain included, while drinks are not.

Day 5: Sunrise in Mikumi, then back to Dar es Salaam

The final day begins with early morning game viewing. This is a smart use of the last morning because cooler hours often make an outing more comfortable, and you have one final chance to look for wildlife before the return drive.

Later in the afternoon, you take a game drive en route back to Dar es Salaam. The listed game-viewing portion is about three hours, but the return to the city will add road time. You should not plan an important flight or fixed appointment immediately after the stated end of the tour unless the operator confirms the arrival time directly.

The tour ends back at the Dar es Salaam meeting point. Transport to and from the city is included, which makes the arrangement useful if you are staying in Dar es Salaam before or after the safari.

Guides, vehicle, and the feel of the trip

Your driver-guide is central to the experience. A good guide does more than drive. The guide watches the road, reads animal behavior, explains what you are seeing, and manages the pace of the day.

Earlier trips were led by Juma, Otto, Musa, and Endrick, and the strongest praise focused on safe driving, friendly conduct, wildlife spotting, and clear explanations. Rama handled arrangements for several past departures and was also involved in building private versions of the route. If you have a language preference or a particular guide request, raise it before booking, since the information does not promise a specific assignment.

The 4×4 Landcruiser has a pop-up roof. That setup is practical for safari photography and viewing, since you can rise above the side of the vehicle without leaving it. The group limit is 12, so comfort depends partly on how many people are booked for your date.

Bottled water is included. Drinks beyond that, laundry, and travel insurance are not. I would treat travel insurance as essential for a multi-day safari, especially one with long road transfers and weather-dependent activities.

What the $1,999 price means

At $1,999 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The price needs to be judged against what is included: five days, transport from Dar es Salaam, a 4×4 safari vehicle, a driver-guide, park access, four breakfasts, four dinners, and five lunches.

You also receive three different safari formats: boat, walking, and vehicle-based viewing. That makes the price easier to understand than a simple point-to-point transfer with a few hours in a park.

The value is strongest if you want a ready-arranged southern Tanzania trip and do not want to organize transport, park entry, meals, and accommodation yourself. It is less compelling if you want a luxury lodge holiday, a private vehicle guaranteed for your party, or a short trip with little time on the road.

Some past trips were customized around anniversaries and private groups, with higher-end accommodation arranged separately. Do not assume those upgrades are part of this exact package. Confirm the accommodation, group size, and whether the vehicle is private before you compare the price with other safari options.

Who should book this safari

I would recommend it to you if:

• You want Selous and Mikumi rather than the busier northern circuit.
• You like wildlife trips with more than standard game drives.
• You are comfortable with early starts and long road days.
• You want transport and meals arranged from Dar es Salaam.
• You prefer a small maximum group instead of a large coach-style tour.
• You want a five-day safari without adding internal flights.

I would think twice if you dislike rough roads, long transfers, or changing accommodation. Day 3 is especially demanding, and the sunset drive in Mikumi depends on arrival time.

The trip also suits first-time safari participants who want a varied introduction. Past first-time visitors used the route for their first safari and found the combination of parks, boat rides, and guided driving easy to follow. You should still expect a real bush trip, not a resort holiday.

Booking details to keep in mind

Pickup is offered in Dar es Salaam, with a 7:30 a.m. start. The activity ends at the original meeting point, and confirmation is provided when you book.

The experience is listed as suitable for most participants and is near public transportation. It requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low enrollment causes cancellation, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Selous and Mikumi safari?

Book it if your priority is southern Tanzania, varied wildlife viewing, and fewer crowds, and you are willing to trade some comfort for time on the road. The boat safari in Selous and the walking outing give this route a useful edge over a game-drive-only plan.

Before paying, confirm three details: the exact accommodation, the expected group size, and the guide assignment. If those answers work for you, this is a well-rounded five-day safari with a genuine sense of distance from Dar es Salaam and a strong mix of wildlife activities.

FAQ

Where does the safari start and end?

It starts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with pickup at 7:30 a.m. The activity ends back at the meeting point in Dar es Salaam.

How long is the safari?

The safari lasts approximately five days.

Which parks and reserves are included?

The route includes Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park.

Is transport from Dar es Salaam included?

Yes. Transport to and from Dar es Salaam is included.

What type of vehicle is used?

The safari uses a 4×4 Landcruiser with a pop-up roof.

What meals are included?

The package includes four dinners, four breakfasts, and five lunches. Bottled water is also included.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks other than the included bottled water are not included.

What activities are included?

The schedule includes a boat safari, a walking safari, game drives in Selous, and game drives in Mikumi.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 12 participants.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and poor weather or insufficient enrollment may lead to a different date, another experience, or a full refund.